The voice of Christians” “

The organizations of civil society will be listened to by the plenary session of the Convention which will be held in Brussels on 24 and 25 June. “To complete its mission – explain the promoters of the European initiative – the Convention consider it extremely important to listen to and take into consideration the views and the aspirations of the representatives of civil society”. In preparation for this session, the non-governmental organizations and the local and regional authorities will contribute to the work groups of the Presidium of the Convention on 12, 13, 17 and 18 June to “act as the mouthpieces of the hopes and aspirations of European society for the future of Europe”. The groups are divided thematically into the following fields: social affairs, environment, human rights, development, academic world, regions and local communities, culture. The Christian Churches and the religious communities are not explicitly mentioned in any of the thematic groups. We discussed the matter with the representatives of the European episcopates and with Archbishop Patrick Kelly of Liverpool. Where are the religions? “We have the impression that the European Union is finding it difficult to integrate the religions in its process of seeking a European identity”. And in spite of the repeated appeals of the Holy Father, “apart from personal declarations, nothing has been done at the institutional level”. So says Stefan Lunte of COMECE, the Commission representing the episcopates of the EU. Intervening at a press conference in Venice, organized in connection with the Consultation of the European Churches on the environment (cf. the reports on pp. 2-5), Lunte spoke of the work that the Churches are conducting on the margins of the European Convention. “The Church – he explained – does not of course claim the right to have a monopoly in the management of spirituality. She is however conscious of having, in this field, a long tradition and a heightened sensitivity”. “We understand – added Lunte – that the cultural traditions of the European countries are different, but we have the impression that there is a tendency to ignore, or at any rate not to take into full consideration, the religious traditions at the institutional level”. The Churches and the religious communities – explained the COMECE representative – have been inserted in the preparatory group for culture. “That’s fine, but it’s not enough”. “We ask – he added – a specific space for the Churches”. Christian values in Europe. Msgr. Aldo Giordano, secretary general of the CCEE (Council of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe) endorses this appeal. “It is not of course in the Churches’ interest – he explains – to be simply nominated in any future European constitutional Treaty. What they have at heart is that the values inspired by Christianity be present in Europe”. The Churches – declares Giordano – are following the process of European unification with great attention. “A contribution of the European Churches to the process of European unification – he said – is the European Ecumenical Charter, signed by all the European Churches with a series of pledges”. The text of the Charter is very concrete and “a whole chapter is devoted to the safeguard of the creation”. On this front, it is the Churches in particular that are committed to developing “a lifestyle in which we accord value to a responsible and sustainable quality of life, in opposition to the dominion of the economic logic and the consumerist mentality”. The cry of the poor. Europe cannot become self-enclosed. This is the warning given by Archbishop Patrick Kelly of Liverpool, who appeals to the continent “always to have an eye for the poorest countries. We have a need to hear the voice of Africa. When we speak of the environment or work or other social problems, we must hear the voice of the poorest. For it is they, and not the rich, who suffer most when there is no work, or when the environment is damaged. The risk is that Europe may only think of herself. For the Churches and the religions such a view is unacceptable. A fortress Europe would be a dead Europe”.